For many people, small pockets of stubborn fat just won’t budge even with a healthy diet and exercise. Seeing these bulges adding bumps to your contours can be frustrating. CoolSculpting® can be an effective, non-surgical way to eliminate this excess fat by freezing and destroying the fat cells.
Recognized as one of the top cosmetic surgeons in the Mobile-Pensacola metro area, Dr. James Koehler is a board certified cosmetic surgeon serving patients from Gulfport to Gulf Shores and beyond. In addition to CoolSculpting®, Dr. Koehler offers a wide range of plastic surgery procedures for both men and women, and is known for his caring commitment to a patient-first approach.
Are You a Candidate?
The best candidates for CoolSculpting® are men and women who are interested in a non-surgical alternative to liposuction to remove excess fat. Ideal candidates feel frustrated by stubborn bulges of fat in the abdomen, inner thigh, outer thigh, double chin and flanks or sides, including love handles or a muffin top. The FDA has only approved the use of CoolSculpting® for those areas.
CoolSculpting® is not a weight loss procedure and is only right for people with small amounts of extra fat in specific spots. During your consultation, Dr. Koehler will talk with you about if you’re a good candidate for CoolSculpting® and if CoolSculpting® may deliver the results you’d like to see.
About CoolSculpting®
CoolSculpting® uses controlled cooling — called cryolipolysis — to freeze or crystalize fat cells without damaging your skin or surrounding tissue. The frozen fat cells collapse and your body naturally flushes away the cells in the months after your treatment. CoolSculpting® permanently destroys about 20 to 25 percent of the fat cells in the treatment area for an improved shape and long-lasting results.
The number of treatments varies by the person and how many areas are treated. Dr. Koehler designs each CoolSculpting® treatment plan to suit your individual concerns.
CoolSculpting® Costs
At our practice the cost of CoolSculpting® treatments start at $750 per treatment with the total amount varying depending on the area being treated and the number of treatments required to achieve your desired results. Dr. Koehler and his staff are happy to answer any questions you may have about CoolSculpting® pricing and help you fully understand the costs associated with CoolSculpting® treatments.
What to Expect
CoolSculpting® treatments between 35 and 75 minutes and you may be able to have more than one area treated during a single visit. During the treatment, our staff will situate a gel pad and CoolSculpting® applicator on the target area. You may experience intense cold for the first 5 to 10 minutes until the area becomes numb. You may also feel some discomfort or a tugging or mild pinching sensation throughout the procedure as the applicator uses suction to pull fat into the cup. Many people feel comfortable enough to read, use a phone or tablet or nap during their CoolSculpting® treatments.
You should experience little to no downtime after each CoolSculpting® treatment and should be able to quickly resume your normal activities. Some people even return to work after treatments.
Risk and Complications
Because CoolSculpting® chills the area and uses suction on your skin, treatments can cause temporary numbness, redness, swelling, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging and pain. The redness should fade within in a few hours though it may last for up to 2 weeks after treatment. You may also notice bruising, swelling, tenderness, cramping, aching, skin sensitivity, tingling and numbness for 1 to 2 weeks.
Your New Look
Because CoolSculpting® works with your body to flush away dead fat cells, your results won’t be immediately visible. You may begin seeing results as soon as 3 weeks after your treatment with more pronounced results showing after 2 months. As your body finishes clearing away fat cells, you should see sleeker contours and a smoother silhouette about 4 to 6 months after CoolSculpting® treatments.